DSF Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $5-7 million
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Reviews 3 times per year
Grant Range: $5,000 - $1,000,000
Geographic Focus: Southwestern Pennsylvania, primarily Pittsburgh

Contact Details

Website: dsfcf.org
Phone: (412) 362-6000
Email: info@dsfcf.org
Address: 5846 Ellsworth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232-1708

Overview

The DSF Charitable Foundation is the charitable-giving organization of the David Scaife family, established in 2000. David Scaife is the son of Richard Mellon Scaife, a prominent newspaper publisher and philanthropist. With total assets of approximately $117 million and annual grantmaking between $5-7 million, the foundation supports excellence in health, human services, and education across southwestern Pennsylvania. The foundation has a particular strategic interest in creating or sustaining models of excellence that have potential to be replicated elsewhere, thereby providing broader benefit to the nation. Recent tax filings show the foundation made 26 grants totaling over $5 million in 2023, with a median grant size of approximately $75,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Health Research Grants: $20,000 - $1,000,000 (neurodegenerative diseases, cancer research, biomedical engineering)
Human Services Grants: $5,000 - $1,000,000 (childcare, disability services, senior programs, youth development)
Education Grants: $5,000 - $500,000 (literacy, tutoring, career development, educational access)
Application method: Rolling basis with three annual review cycles

Priority Areas

Neurodegenerative disease research (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's)
Brain mapping and neural network research
Cancer early detection strategies
Childcare for low-income families
Programs for people with disabilities
Youth development and mentoring
High-quality educational access programs
Models of excellence with replication potential

What They Don't Fund

Organizations outside southwestern Pennsylvania
Religious activities or sectarian purposes
Political campaigns or lobbying
Individual grants (focus on organizational grants)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

Sanford B. Ferguson - Chairman
Sara D. Scaife - Secretary
Edward J. Goncz Sr. - Treasurer
David N. Scaife - Trustee and Co-Executive Director
David G. Scaife - Trustee
Sarah M. Scaife - Trustee

Staff:

J. Nicholas Beldecos - Executive Director
David N. Scaife - Co-Executive Director
Megan A. Collins - Senior Program Officer

The foundation emphasizes creating "models of excellence that have potential to be replicated elsewhere" as a core strategic priority.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications through multiple formats:

Electronic submissions (PDF preferred) to info@dsfcf.org
Paper submissions to their Pittsburgh office
Accepts (but does not require) the common grant application format of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania

Required materials include:

Project narrative
Project budget
Organization's current operating budget
Audited financial statements
Proof of 501(c)(3) status

Decision Timeline

Reviews conducted three times annually
Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
Specific review dates not publicly disclosed

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Based on tax filings, the foundation makes approximately 26-27 grants annually.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation requires that two years elapse between the end of one grant period and consideration of a new request from the same organization.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's grant history and stated priorities:

Replication Potential: Projects that serve as models of excellence with potential to be replicated in other communities receive strongest consideration
University Partnerships: Strong track record of supporting university-based research, particularly interdisciplinary collaborations at University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University
Multi-Year Support: Demonstrates willingness to make substantial multi-year commitments (e.g., $5 million over 3 years to Pitt Brain Institute)
Capital Projects: Funds both programs and capital construction projects, particularly for human services facilities
Interdisciplinary Approaches: In health grants, shows particular interest in cross-disciplinary research and innovative collaborations
Clear Geographic Service: Must clearly demonstrate service to southwestern Pennsylvania communities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Open Application Process: Unlike many family foundations, DSF accepts unsolicited proposals year-round with three review cycles
Significant Grant Sizes: Median grants around $75,000 with capacity for $1 million+ grants for strategic initiatives
Innovation Focus: Strong preference for innovative "models of excellence" over general operating support
Research-Friendly: Major supporter of academic research, particularly in neuroscience and life sciences
Long-Term Partnerships: History of multi-year grants suggests value in building sustained relationships
Two-Year Gap Required: Plan ahead as organizations must wait two years between grants
Contact Encouraged: Foundation provides direct contact information and appears open to pre-application inquiries

References

DSF Charitable Foundation Official Website: dsfcf.org (Accessed January 2026)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - DSF Charitable Foundation Form 990-PF (Filed November 15, 2024)
Cause IQ Profile: DSF Charitable Foundation EIN 25-1847237 (Accessed January 2026)
University of Pittsburgh News: "Pitt receives $5 million grant from the DSF Charitable Foundation for Magellan-like effort to map the brain" (Accessed January 2026)
Carnegie Mellon University News: "DSF Foundation Gift Advances Life Sciences Research and Education" (October 2017)
Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania Member Directory - DSF Charitable Foundation (Accessed January 2026)
Life'sWork of Western PA Grant Announcement from DSF Charitable Foundation (Accessed January 2026)